Best time to photo flowers?

I really admire the gorgeous pictures members post of their flowers. When I take pictures, too often the colours are bleached out by the sun. Is there a "best" time of day to take pictures? I really want to show what my garden looks like - but I can't seem to get good pictures (or maybe the pictures are fine and I am just in denial about what the gardens really look like!)

I don't mind some sunny pics. In general to get better detail or truers colors low light conditions are best. Sometimes it just takes more shots and some experimenting to get the photo you want.

I always prefer to take photos in early morning! that's when I get my best shots.

Laate afternoon works well, also-but the flowers and foliage are much plumper and petals are more defined, after a few hours of dark, it seems to me.

Sasha

Photographers call the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset the 'golden hours'. Those are ideal times to photograph. Try to avoid the harsh midday sun. Shade is good. The ideal conditions are an evenly overcast sky - one that is not too dark. But all rules are made to be broken. Experiment! You can also use the camera settings or external filters to alter the glare and degree of light.

Okay - so use the evening (when cool enough) to weed the section I want to photo the next morning (so pirl won't notice the weeds lol) Getting up early is easy for me - and of course, the flowers will be refreshed after the relative cool of the evening - so that makes sense.

So - tomorrow morning, I will try to take some pictures. Thanks for the info :-)

Victor is right ( as usual). Another good set up is in dappled shade where some shadowy sun comes through over head trees etc.
There is no better time than sunrise or sunset.
I post pics on a big Photo site for critique. Full shade gets comments like "The colors look flat". I can't argue because they are right.
Here is one of Kassia's roses I took yesterday. It was in a pot so I moved it a couple of feet to the edge of the tree shadow. See how the background is dark while the flower is 'alive'? It's not perfect but better than either full sun or shadow.
Andy P

The only problem I have with dimmer light is my camera has to be on macro for no flash, and you need to be still to keep from blurring the pictures. My other camera doesn't really have an easy macro, but is faster on other shots. I toss out(delete) a lot of photos to get some good ones.

Al, you mean it always flashes? Throw it out, lol.

I can turn the flash level down, and it doesn't use the flash until much darker lighting than the other one, but yes it's frustrating. The macro setting( I think) just washes everything out.

Thanks Andy - just wish it were true! I take many, if not most, of my shots in bright shade. I try to stay away from full, dim shade. I love the hour before sunset - I'm never up and about just after sunrise! At that time I'm cursing the loud birds who are waking me up.

Al, I second Andy's comment! That is strange.

Both cameras are at least 5 years old - so I'll work through it until I update.

It's all worth it when you catch a special shot.

Nice! They look happy there was no flash.

Lovie dovie.
Nice shot, Al.

I also love to go out at night with the camera and get night shots. I think it "livens" the color up a bit.
It does, however change the actual color of the flower.
This columbine is deep purple by day and blue by night.

Kim

Same Columbine by day

Sometimes night shots bring out characteristics not seen by day.
I didn't realize this dianthus was as pretty as it was until I took this night shot of it.

Kim

I have to agree with the guys...first thing in the morning or early evening. Daylilies pictures should be taken an hour or 2 after the sun comes up, if you wait until early evening, the flower is faded and ready to close. Unless it's nocturnal, then it's just starting to open. If you take it to early in the morning it's not fully open.

This first picture was taken mid-day....notice the splotches on the petals?

In my opinion, nothing whitens whites more than a night shot.
During the day I find these kind of blah....but at night.....beacons :)

Kim

this picture was taken first thing in the morning....no splotching and the color is much darker.

This wisteria is totally bleached by the sun during the day.....at night she seems to be "rested" and ready to relax :)

Kim

This Clematis "just grows there" during the day but at night when the lights go out.......party time :)

Kim

Kim, it's funny you would put up the white bellflower......I just saw mine this morning in bloom for the first time this year.

I agree with you Pixie, daylilies are definitely one of those flowers you want to be out there in the early AM with camera in hand. Love the 2nd picture of your pretty dayliliy :)

Can't wait until my White Rose Campion blooms or the red Bee Balm as I think they are going to make spectacular "night" shots :)

Kim

Kim, thats "Beaming Blessings" that I just planted last month. It has been blooming for over a week now!

White bellflower....taken just before sunrise.

I agree Kim. I love night shots. Colors and even shapes come out that are not there in daylight. And as you say, whites are spectacular. (Sounds like a detergent commercial - brighter colors and whiter whites!)

LOL Victor that's cute!
I find it very relaxing to be out there on a cool night in total darkness trying to get the "right" shot :)
Have to be real quiet though so I don't scare the skunks *lol*

Kim

Agree with the just after sunrise/sunset theory. I also got a new camera 2 days ag, a Canon A630! Still experimenting with macros with it but so far it's AWESOME!

Not perfected yet but working on it!

Nice shot. Congrats and have fun!!

Terrific photo, Tommy. Enjoy!

Kim - I love your night pictures. How do you take pictures at night? Do you set up lights for them? Or just use the flash? How late at night are you talking about? Just after dusk, or really dark?

Songs of Joy, thank you very much for the compliment :)
I just took this picture a few minutes ago and it's 9:30 PM here so it's pitch black outside.
On my camera when I use the flash it shows me a quick "shot" of what will be included in the picture.
Usually I take a picture with all 3 flash settings and then when I check them out on my screen I pick my favorite of the 3. I don't know a thing about picture taking nor do I have a fancy camera, I just like playing out there and usually take 10 or so pictures before I get 1 shot I like the best *lol* Thank goodness for the delete key :)

Kim

What type of flower is 'Elizabeth'? Campanula?

Yes, Campanula Punctata......extremely invasive but simply breath taking. I just planted a Kent Belle this year which is another invasive (not AS invasive as Elizabeth) and is a blue/purple color. I think the 2 will look so nice together. It's worse than obedient plant but I look forward to the blooms every year :) Most people don't want it in their garden though and if it's this invasive in Maine (zone 5) I can only imagine what it can do in warmer zones :) I think it would look stunning in a dappled shade/sun woodland area where it could do whatever it wanted to :)

Kim

So do I.

Kim, if you have any seeds to spare I would love some. I have the place that you described....dappled shade woodland setting. I have been adding to that area with plants that can just take off. My thought was to give it some color but in a nice natural way. I have put Forget-me-nots, Raspberry Splash Pulmonaria, pink & white bleeding hearts, trillium, bluebell campanula and some foliage that im not sure what it is but it's light green w/white edging on the leaves.

Kim, can you please post a shot of the entire plant? I'd like to see how the foliage looks. How high and wide do they get?

Without my trees a lot of my plant wouldn't make it in our heat. their shade protects from the raging sun [currently at 104F] even tho their roots steal a great deal of the moisture and clog the earth they are all planted in.

For instance this shot was taken at 12:24pm. as close to high noon as anyone might be shooting. But I came out of the house and my orange lily caught my eye.
I've enjoyed all your pictures so much I just wanted to share this one.

I too, agree on the hours just after sunrise and before and after sunset being the best times to get the best light for photography. However a day with high overall clouds also gives great colors to flowers. And an overall even light. ~Blooms

OK, here is a shot of the entire plant that I just took today. I would almost consider this her "full bloom look". Not every bud is open but almost.

She stands about 29 inches in my garden but that doesn't mean anything. I grow in acidic sand so in good soil I don't know how tall she could possibly get.

Pixie, although I have read that it sets seed, I have never seen seed on mine. She spreads by underground runners which pop up EVERYWHERE *lol* (next picture to follow).

I am not doing any more trades this year as I just can't afford it and still owe 2 trades this fall. With that being said, I would be more than happy to send you some for postage. I could either do 3 trades of 5 babies (3rd picture of one of the babies I transplanted this spring blooming on my "shade island" or 2 trades of 10 babies for those that are interested. I have already sent out 2 boxes containing babies this spring so you can imagine how many more babies I had before now *lol*. I am, however, looking for some neat new perennial seeds to winter sow *hint, hint* lol

Here is the picture of the whole plant this afternoon:

Here is a picture to show how much she spreads. Note where the mother plant is and look at the babies in conjunction as to where she is. The babies are the green things IN FRONT of the Siberian Iris.

This is a shot of the baby that I put on my "shade (dappled) island bed". This shows you how small they can be when they bloom. She looks so innocent right now.....but wait...............next year.......but I knew that when I put her there.

The picture is a little blurry but I wanted to rush in and chat with everyone *lol*